How to Prevent Kids From Flushing Things Down the Toilet
Having toddlers is like having little pets that can do much more damage because they want to explore everything and are interested in the most random things. A good example is flushing the toilet. To them, something is initially there, but when you press a button, it suddenly disappears.
This curious happening drives them to make different objects disappear for fun. While it may be an enjoyable pastime for them, it is definitely going to cause you a headache since you will probably end up with a blocked toilet — or worse, a flooded bathroom. There are some great ways to prevent this horrible situation from occurring and avoid the stress of looking for an emergency plumber. Take a look!
1. Invest in a toilet lock
Believe it or not, even toilets can get locks installed to protect them from curious children. This may be because the dilemma of children trying to flush things down the toilet has been around for quite a while. Fortunately, you can use this to your advantage and invest in your very own toilet lock. This helps you childproof your toilet against little ones trying to shove things inside the toilet bowl and flushing.
Although having to routinely unlock your toilet gives you an extra step to do before you can use it, the toilet lock will save you hundreds of dollars trying to fix the toilet every time any item is shoved inside by children. There are different types of locks that you can use to childproof your toilet. With a little bit of research, you can find one that is within budget but is strong enough to deter your children from flushing anything they get their hands on.
2. Turn off the water valve
If there is no water in the flushing system, then you will not have a clogged toilet to worry about. This simple step will not cost you any extra money but it will require remembering to turn off the valve anytime the toilet is not being used. Even if a toy or object is thrown inside, your child will not be able to flush it properly.
The only downside to this method is that you might forget to turn off the valve at some point and might end up regretting your lapse in memory. If your child is old enough to realize what you are doing, he or she might try to reach the water valve and turn it back on. Thankfully, even if that occurs, you will have some time to discover the action and stop your child from continuing with their nefarious plan.
3. Discuss with a professional
Talking to a professional plumber about how to safeguard your toilet from clogs is crucial if you want to save on constant repairs due to blockage. Some blockages can be fixed using a regular plunger. Unfortunately, if your child has flushed too many items, you’ll end up with a blocked toilet, and you will need a professional to come in and unclog it for you.
You can use this instance to ask the plumber to talk to your children and make them understand how severe the issue can get. The plumber can encourage them to be more careful so that they never do it again. Talking to your plumber can also help you understand how to fix this issue without having to resort to constant repairs.
4. Keep some items away from children
Sometimes, you cannot prevent your children from flushing some items down the drain, but you can still prevent them from causing serious destruction. Try keeping them away from items that will definitely cause irreparable damage if flushed. For example, flushing limited amounts of toilet paper does not create the same effect as toys.
You can protect your toilet from these objects by limiting the area in which your child can carry a toy around. For example, you can set a rule that no toys are allowed inside the bathroom at all. This may take some time to enforce but it will ensure that their curiosity is limited to objects that won’t create huge blockages.
5. Lock the bathroom door
If your bathroom has a key that you can use to lock it from the outside, then this can be your chosen method of preventing blockages. This will save you the hassle of constantly keeping an eye on your children 24/7 since even if they try to be sneaky, they will not be able to go inside the bathroom without your knowledge. Although this may cause some incidents if you are trying to potty train your toddlers, it will certainly deter them from going inside a bathroom with items to flush down the toilet.
Children are always curious which can sometimes make them do things that are detrimental. Using these different methods, you will ensure that you do not have to spend thousands of dollars to constantly repair your toilet. You can also try to talk to your children and make them understand why this is not okay, and if you want to stop them from ever doing this again, you can involve them in the cleanup process.
